Vets claim viral post is a hoax that dogs will die after drinking ice water

A blog post about the dangers of giving your dog ice water is going viral and terrifying pet owners, but is there any truth to it?

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According to KVIA News on Friday, a post that's gone viral on social media claims that a dog died because someone gave him ice or ice water on a hot day is a hoax. The post claims that that ice water caused bloating and spasms which led to the dog's death. Dr. Brad Phillips, DVM, Medical Director of VCA Pets Are People Too Veterinary Hospital in Atlanta says your dog is not at risk for drinking ice water on a hot day. The post that has gone viral is not true.

The post has been circulated through e-mail and Facebook that if you give your dog ice water, it will cause the dog to die from bloating and spasms. The post falsely advises dog owners to refrain from give the dogs ice or ice water. However, in recent days, many veterinarians have talked about the post, saying it holds no weight.

The post that surfaced in recent days about dogs bloating and having spasms after drinking ice water has been around since at least 2007. Each time there are variations to the post. One veterinarian, Dr. Randall Carpenter, says that a dog consuming cold water or ice cubes in moderation won’t cause fatal bloating or spasms. He said, “Ice cubes and cold water are fine for pets as long as it’s done with some common sense.” Watch what else he has to say in the above video.

Dr. Audrey Harvey said, “There have been rumors that ice and ice water causes a spasm of the stomach muscle in dogs, leading to a swollen stomach, and potentially fatal bloat. These rumors are not true." Many other veterinarians agree that your dog is not at risk because of ice or ice water.